Foundation garment



Feb. 17, 1953- M. LAGUZZI 2,628,354

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l T J. T 7. 5.

IN VENTOR M ar z'o L0 7 2422 2' ATTORNEYS INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Feb. 17, 1953 M Z] 2,628,354

FOUNDATION GARMENT File'd June 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mar 750 Lay 2'42: 2

M.'LAGUZZ| FOUNDATION GARMENT Feb. 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 29, 1951 I INVENTOR La azz Maria ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,628,354 FOUNDATION GARMENT Mant gna N Y klNi it, a sienojr t 'Poneaec'arsets, Inc., New Year; N. Y. applicanmiunezs, 1951, Serial No. 234,287

B'Clttiins. 1v

This invention relates to -that class of women's garments known as foundation garments.

In the formation of foundation garments elastic fabric is used, and in-certain types of these garments-the elastic fabric-'hasatwo-way stretch. The construction of a foundation garment entirely out of two-way stretch-fabrieis not entirely satisfactory because of; the-factthatthe confining pressure is evenly distributed, whereas in most instances it is desirable to form the garment from fabric. which is partially made from two-way stretch fabric an'd also partially made from fabric having only a one-way stretch characteristic.

In a modified form of this invention the garment is formed from fabric having atwo-way stretch and also fabric which is non-elastic,

The construction of a garment of this kind using a two-way stretch fabric also requires that the two-way stretch fabricbereinforced at predetermined locations by. elastic reinforcing strips or bands which will resist thenormal stretching of the fabric in such locations. Preferabiyi these strips or bands are arranged-on a bias in'diver'gent pairs with an intermediate 1 strip 'or iba'nd secured to the two-way stretch fabric.

A further object of this invention is to provide a foundation garment wherein gussets or inserts are disposed in the side portions of the garment which have a non-elastic characteristic which will have the effect of smoothing out the lines of the wearer.

In several forms of this invention the arrangement of the elastic panels and reinforcing bands is such as to place extra support and pressure on the abdomen so as to thereby flatten the stomach, and also reduce the hips, derriere and buttocks, without producing a bulge line at the top of the garment. I

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation of a foundation garment constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the garment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary inner side elevation of the garment.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings and, first, to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive. the numeral i5 designates genorally a front panel which is formed of elastic fabric having lengthwise stretchable characteristics, and the fabric forming the panel l 5 is nonelastic transversely thereof; The panel l5 has secured to the opposite longitudinal edges thereof frontelastic panels l6 which are secured to the panel i5 by means .of'zigzagstitching II. The front'panels 16 have elastic characteristics longitudinally and transversely thereof; being-known as two-way stretch fabric, and each of-the panels ifi-has secured to the inner-side thereof laterally divergent reinforcingelastic bands or tapes 18. The bands or tapes l-8 converge toward the central panel l5 and are stitohedto "the innerside of panel it by means of zigzag stitching: l9;

Apairof-side panels 20 are secured to the 1ongitudinal edges of the front panels 16 bymeans cf zigzag stitching 21; and'the panels 29-have a longitudinally elastic characteristic whereby panels 20- may stretch longitudinally thereof but thepanels 20 are'non-elastie transversely thereof.

Aninterengageable fastening means 22-is disposed along the meeting edges of oneof the panels I 6,-and one-of the panelszo so that the garment may be readily mounted on-the body. The side panels 20 have secured to the rear longitudinal edges thereof elastic panels 23 which are secured to the panels 20 by means of zigzag stitching 24.

A centrally disposed back panel 25 having a one-way stretchable characteristic is secured between the outer rear panels 23 by means of zigzag stitching 26. The rear outer panels 23 are reinforced by means of inwardly convergent elastic strips or bands 2! secured to the inner sides of the panels 23 by means of zigzag stitching 28.

An intermediate reinforcing band or strip 29 is secured to each panel 23 by means of zigzag stitching 3! An intermediate elastic band or strip 3| is secured between each pair of the inwardly convergent bands or strips I8 by means of zigzag stitching 32. The rear panel 25 terminates at a point below the waistline of the garment, and a two-way stretchable fabric 33 is secured at its lower edge to the upper edge of panel 25 by means of stitching 34 and is secured by means of zigzag stitching 35 to the upper inner edges of the rear side panels 23.

The front center panel [5 as shown in Figure 1 has the side edges thereof converging downwardly from a medial point, and the upper portion of the central panel l'5 has the side edges thereof converging upwardly and inwardly to the waistline of the garment. The formation of the central panel l5 as hereinbefore described has 3 the characteristic of holding the garment against lateral stretching in the lower front portion thereof so as to thereby bind the lower abdomen of the wearer.

The position of the inwardly convergent reinforcing strips or bands l8 in substantially the central portion of the garment between the upper and lower edges thereof provides a means to resist the stretching of the two-way stretchable panels 16 so as to thereby effect a confining of the stomach or abdomen of the wearer. The rear central panel 25 which has a one-way or vertically stretchable characteristic also provides a means whereby the rear of the wearer will be confined and the rear inwardly convergent strips 2'1 carried by the two-way stretchable panels 23 eifects a resistance means substantially'midway between the upper and lower ends of the garment so as to more firmly confine the hips of the wearer.

The position of the upper elastic panel or inset 33 which extends from the upper edge of the rear central panel 25 provides a means whereby the waist portion of the garment at the rear thereof may stretch vertically and horizontally so as to smooth out the waistline of the wearer in the back portion of the garment and eliminate any bulging of'the flesh above the waistline of the garment.

The provision of the side longitudinally elastic panels 20 also provides a means whereby the garment will be held against undue horizontal stretching, and the side panels 20 will thereby confine the wearer at the side.

What is claimed is:

1. In a garment for women's wear, frontand rear panels having an elastic characteristic 1ongitudinally thereof, front and rear pairs of elastic panels secured to and extending from said first named panels, said pairs of panels having elastic characteristics longitudinally and transversely thereof, side panels, each secured between a front and a rear panel of said pairs of panels, said side panels having an elastic characteristic longitudinally thereof, and obliquely disposed elastic reinforcing strips secured at one end to each edge of said front panel, and at their opposite ends to the adjacent edges of the adjacent side panels, and additional reinforcing strips secured at one end to each edge of said rear panel and at their opposite ends to the adjacent edges of the side panels.

2. In a garment for women's wear, front and rear panels having an elastic characteristic longitudinally thereof, front and rear pairs of panels having longitudinal and transverse elastic characteristics secured to and extending from said first-named panels, side panels, each secured between a front and a rear panel of each of said pairs of panels, said side panels having an elastic characteristic longitudinally thereof,

and obliquely disposed elastic reinforcing strips secured at one end to each edge of said front panel and at their opposite ends to the adjacent edge of the adjacent side panel.

3. In a garment for womens wear, a front panel, a rear panel having an elastic characteristic longitudinally thereof, side panels each having a horizontally elastic characteristic secured to and extending between said first-mentioned panels, each of said side panels being formed with a central vertical reinforcing strip, and obliquely disposed sets of elastic tensioning strips, each strip of a set secured at one end with said front panel at a side edge of said front panel and extending to and secured at its other end with a said reinforcing strip.

MARIO LAGUZZI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Laguzzi 

